In December of 2017 5,046 families had returned to the liberated Christian village of Qaraqosh, Iraq. There was no poser, no running water, but thanks to Christmas for Refugees the birth of Jesus was celebrated by the children.

Christmas events for Christian refugee children now in four countries! Nigeria: The first Christmas for Refugees event to be held in Nigeria was at an orphanage in the heart of the conflict zone. The orphanage is in the town of Miango in Plateau State just about 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Jos which has seen church…

By William J. Murray (Amman Jordan – 12/19/17) Christmas for Refugees events celebrating the birth of Jesus have begun for 2017. Celebrations have already taken place in Nigeria, Lebanon and Iraq. Displaced Christian children have come together to have fun, games, songs and gifts along with programs that center on the true meaning of Christmas….

Orphanage in conflict zone holds Christmas program The first Christmas for Refugees event in Nigeria was held at an orphanage in the heart of the conflict zone. The orphanage is located in the town of Miango, Plateau State just about 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Jos which has seen church bombings and the massacre of…

The Kurds held an “independence vote” to create an independent state. The reaction of the Iraqi government was to shut down airline operations into the Kurdish region including the Erbil airport. The closure causes great problems for our aid programs in Iraq.

The core of the Christmas for Refugees program is the same in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, but the local needs in each of those nations are different, as are the customs. In Lebanon, the Christmas events for the children are held in locations all over the country, as the Christian families are scattered. Because Lebanon…

Christians who are now returning to their homes in areas of the Nineveh Plains liberated from the Islamic State’s control are finding chaos and destruction. Sister Diana Momeka, a nun with the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena, ministers to those who have been displaced by ISIS: “(When) we went to see what happened…

Last week, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the December 18 attack in Karak, Jordan, which killed ten people and injured 34 others. Following the attacks, pro-ISIS social media users, especially on the Telegram, posted pictures and messages celebrating the attack and the harm and hurt that it came from it. Many of these posts…

The Religious Freedom Coalition’s Christmas for Refugees program is now in its 2nd year in Iraq and has grown from 600 children to more than 2,000 children participating. New photos and video of events in Iraq are now available.

Religious Freedom Coalition’s Christmas for Refugees program was featured on Fox News. Fox News correspondent Lauren Green interviewed William Murray and showed footage of one of the Christmas celebrations in a church in an undisclosed location in the region, where refugee children sang songs and visited with Santa Claus. Christmas for Refugees began in 2013…

Christmas for Refugees

Christmas events for Iraqi and Syrian Christian refugee children began in Jordan In 2013 and expanded to Lebanon in 2014 and Iraq in 2015. In 2017 the Christmas program was introduced at a Christian orphanage in Nigeria. The Christmas programs last several hours and include Gospel themed puppet shows, games, and Christmas carols. Gospel themed coloring books and work books are distributed to the children who also receive a meal. Each child takes home a gift to the family of food staples, hygiene product packages and/or blankets depending upon region.